Stone Brewing Announces $25 Million Berlin Brewery

The country’s tenth largest craft brewery, Stone Brewing Co., today announced plans to build a new $25 million brewery in Berlin.

The San Diego-based craft brewery said it plans to open a production brewery and “expansive destination restaurant” in Germany’s capital city by early 2016.

“This is a historic moment for Stone,” CEO and co-founder Greg Koch said in a press statement. “I’ve wanted to say these next words for many years now: We’re coming to Europe. We’re coming to Germany. We are coming to Berlin!”

To help fund construction of the new brewery, Stone has launched an Indiegogo campaign and is aiming to crowdsource $1 million. Perks for donating include a $30 t-shirt, $50 collaboration brews, $250 brewers’ dinners and $1,000 “brewer for a day” packages.

For Stone Brewing fans looking to part ways with a little extra cash, $10,000 and $30,000 packages will include engravings on fermentation tanks and a weekend stay at Koch’s downtown San Diego loft.

So why did Stone opt to crowdsource a portion of the project with consumer dollars? Koch explained the rationale in a video posted to the company’s YouTube channel.

“To take it this far and to do it as soon as we want to do it, it takes a lot of heavy lifting,” he said. “That is essentially what we are asking for. We are asking for you to help us do some heavy lifting.”

That “heavy lifting” includes renovations to a historic gasworks complex in Marienpark Berlin, which will transform more than two acres of indoor and outdoor space into a world-class brewing facility, the company said.

“It has been a long time coming and I couldn’t be more proud to say that we are finally on our way to being the first American craft brewer to own and operate our own brewery in Europe,” Koch said in the release.

Stone might be the first independently owned craft brewery to build across the pond, but it won’t be the first U.S. brewery to lay down roots in Europe.

Last January, New York’s Brooklyn Brewery announced plans to build a $5 million brewery and restaurant project located in central Stockholm. That brewery is jointly owned by Brooklyn, D. Carnegie & Co. and Carlsberg Sweden.

It’s worth noting that Stone already owns a number of breweries, restaurants and wholesale operations throughout California and Hawaii. The company’s primary brewing and packaging facilities are headquartered in Escondido, Calif., but it also operates a smaller brewery-restaurant and taproom at Liberty Station in San Diego. Stone also owns four additional retail locations in San Diego, Pasadena, Calif. and Oceanside, Calif. as well as a craft beer distributor servicing markets in Southern California. In February, the company also announced a joint wholesaler venture in Hawaii, with Maui Brewing, and it is currently searching for an East Coast U.S. brewing location.

Full press release is below.

Editor’s Note: As of press time, Stone has raised $11,083 of its $1 million goal. We’ll keep you updated on the campaign’s progress.

ESCONDIDO, CA (July 19, 2014) — The 10th largest craft brewer in the United States, Stone Brewing Co., today announced plans to open a production brewery and expansive destination restaurant in Berlin, Germany. With an anticipated opening in late 2015 or early 2016, Stone is making an initial investment of more than $25 million to renovate a historic gasworks complex in Marienpark Berlin, turning the more than two acres (9,290 square meters) of indoor and outdoor space into a world-class operation that will welcome beer enthusiasts from around the globe. Stone will be the first American craft brewer to independently own and operate a brewery in Europe. Stone Brewing Co. — Berlin will encompass three components: a brewery and packaging hall, a Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens restaurant and a Stone Company Store.

“This is a historic moment for Stone. I’ve wanted to say these next words for many years now: We’re coming to Europe. We’re coming to Germany. We are coming to Berlin!” said Stone CEO and Co-founder Greg Koch. “It has been a long time coming and I couldn’t be more proud to say that we are finally on our way to being the first American craft brewer to own and operate our own brewery in Europe. Once open, we will bring Germany and the rest of Europe a taste of our craft beer vision, and look forward to sharing the unique beers that we have spent the last 18 years brewing.”

“Stone’s future European home will serve as the company’s international hub; a central location promoting goodwill and quality craft beer spanning the globe,” said Stone President and Co-founder Steve Wagner. “With this expansion comes our commitment to brewing bold, aggressive, hop-forward beers in a country with a long history rooted in the art of brewing.”

The company will transform the setting into a one-of-a-kind destination that includes:

A second 20,775-square-foot (1,930 square meters) building that will be utilized for brewing operations and house fermenters, bright tanks, and packaging equipment and materials. Ultimately, the company’s signature ales will be packaged and distributed throughout Europe from the facility.

A third 1,300-square-foot (120 square meters) building, situated in what will be the expansive gardens, to be utilized as event space.

The property’s brewhouse will produce year-round and special-release Stone beers to be packaged, kegged and enjoyed on site and eventually distributed. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens — Berlin will highlight locally grown, organic food that complements the harmonious nature and seasonality of the location’s surroundings. As proud supporters of the international Slow Food movement, Stone will ensure that every dish is made from ingredients adhering to Slow Food’s principles of good, clean, fair food. An ambassador of the craft beer movement, Stone will serve an extensive array of exceptional craft and specialty beers from other breweries in Germany, Europe and across the world, both on tap and in bottles.

Additionally, the company launched an Indiegogo crowd-participation campaign today, so fans can participate in the venture by purchasing special collaboration beers to be brewed with award-winning, renowned craft brewers from around the world at Stone Brewing Co. — Berlin once the facility is operational.

Stone Brewing Co. is a brewery headquartered in Escondido, California, USA. Founded in 1996 in San Marcos, California, it is the largest brewery in Southern California. As of 2012, it was the 10th lar...